The Minnesota Vikings could be making one of the biggest midseason acquisitions in recent memory if Adrian Peterson is reinstated to the team. The All-Pro running back has missed the past eight games after his Sept. 12 arrest for child abuse charges.
Vikings players ready to welcome back Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson could soon make his return to the Vikings, and his teammates would welcome him back as they look to contend for a spot in the NFL playoffs.
While dealing with legal issues involving the case, Peterson was placed on the NFL’s exempt/commissioner’s permission list, but after accepting a plea deal Tuesday, his court battle is over. Still, there’s been no decision on if NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will remove him from the exempt list this season, allowing him to be reinstated to the Vikings.
Several of his teammates in Minnesota weighed in Tuesday on Peterson's potential return, voicing their support for the running back to rejoin the Vikings, according to ESPN. One of those players, tight end Kyle Rudolph, spoke up about what it would mean to have Peterson back in the locker room:
“We all know the kind of person he is,” tight end Kyle Rudolph said. “We’ve stood behind him this whole time. You’d be crazy not to welcome him back into that locker room. It would be a big pickup for this locker room being we have so many young guys. Any time you can have a veteran back in that locker room, the leader that he is in the locker room, out on the practice field, would be huge for us.
“Guys have chatted amongst each others, and I don’t think there’s anyone in that locker room that would need to hear from him. We all know the kind of person Adrian is, and I feel like he’s proven that over his time here.”
It helps that Peterson has been in contact with the team during his absence. Before the Vikings beat the Falcons in Week 4, Peterson passed along a pregame motivational speech for head coach Mike Zimmer to give to the team. He's also given advice to rookie Jerick McKinnon, who has taken over the No. 1 running back spot while Peterson has been out.
McKinnon has had a fine debut season, rushing for 445 yards and 5.0 yards per carry, but he's been held out of the end zone so far, with Matt Asiata taking over in goal-line situations. Although the Vikings' running game is currently 12th in the NFL in rushing yards per game (119.3), the offense is ranked near the bottom, at No. 29.
At 4-5 and winners of two straight, the Vikings aren’t out of the playoff picture. The return of Peterson could be the boost they’re looking for to continue that momentum after their Week 10 bye.
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